Steamer Trunk Plan

Overview

This plan shows you how to build your very own classic trunk. Steamer trunks make attractive storage chests when adorned with our locks, catches, corners and real leather handles. Today's Woodworker (issue 29) has the plans to build your own classic trunk. Trunk hardware blends function with beauty. Hardware kits available in brass or antique brass (#94441 and #74354, each sold separately).

BEST ANSWER:I found this project to be challenging. I have an extensively outfitted shop and found I used almost every tool/machine I had to complete this project. I have been woodworking 10-12 years and found it to be quite a challenge. I was very pleased with the end result, but it is definitely not for a beginner or intermediate.

BEST ANSWER:I found this project to be challenging. I have an extensively outfitted shop and found I used almost every tool/machine I had to complete this project. I have been woodworking 10-12 years and found it to be quite a challenge. I was very pleased with the end result, but it is definitely not for a beginner or intermediate.

BEST ANSWER:I take the pattern and place the carbon paper between it and either poster board of copy paper and trace the pattern. Then I cut out the traced pattern, refine it and then use that to trace onto the work piece.

BEST ANSWER:I take the pattern and place the carbon paper between it and either poster board of copy paper and trace the pattern. Then I cut out the traced pattern, refine it and then use that to trace onto the work piece.

Place the copy paper, dark side down, on the piece of would you want to trace the pattern on. Then put the pattern on top of that and use a hard pencil or pen and trace over the image on the pattern and it will transfer to the wood from the copy paper. You could also cut out the patterns and just trace off of them but keeping them whole makes it easier to store if you want to use them again. Good luck.

The copy paper is actually tracing paper. You will place the paper pattern in the blue prints on top of the tracing paper and have the wood for the pattern . By tracing the pattern in the kit it will transfer the pattern to the wood. Try on something first because the paper has a top an bottom. ThanksJohn Dellinger

Reviews

The plans for the streamer chest are fairly good but parts of the hardware kit need to be updated with sturdier pieces. Like the hinges, I would replace these with a piano hinge And the lid supports are very light weight. I mean this lid when done weighs about 15 to 20 pounds. These few upgrades would truly add to the longevity of a chest that should last long enough to be able to be past down to the next generation. Such a beautiful chest and such cheap hardware.

This was not my first time using Rockler hardware. I have always been please with all of your hardware and this time was no exception. I have been woodworking for many years and had fun building the trunk for a graduation gift for a family member. I was a bit disappointed in the plans though. Why put the templates on the back of the instructions? The instructions for the lid details were not very clear. I think a beginner would have issues with them. In general, I thought the plans could have explained more how to assemble things, and what order to do it. In the case of the lid, if you did not think it through first, you could have build yourself into a corner.I used Cherry for the main rails and styles of the trunk and White Ashsolid for the panels. Black Walnut looked great for the stapping. Since this is for a girl and I am a bit old fashion, I lined the trunk and made the tray out of Aromatic Red Cedar. This gives the inside the look and smell of a cedar chest, without taking away from the looks of the outside.

The plans were easy to follow and the drawings were excellent. The only thing I would like to see different is an additional page with the patterns on it. That would make it much easier to make the templates. The only change I made, was using biscuits in place of the splines. Great project.

This is a good project. So good, that I went ahead and made two of them. The plans are pretty straight forward. The splined miter corners are tricky on the table saw; it is easy to get them out of line and then the joint is thrown off.

For both of these, I wanted a flat top because it works better to place things on the top and allows the trunk to be used as a coffee table. It's actually easier to make this as a flat top than the curved top in the plans.

The trunk looks great with the hardware (tho the hardware is too expensive).

I made this for my grandson for his graduation. This was fun to make. His other grand-parents couldn't get over how beautiful

it looks. They may confiscate it. Ha! Anyway, the plans are easy to follow. I would have changed a few dimensions a little on the panels, other than that, it is very accurate. Guess I'm a bit too picky on some projects I work on.Yes - I would highly recommend these plans

Started as a blanket chest less the shelf, when two granddaughters arrived ended up being a toy box. Excellent plans and project. Note leather in place of walnut to resemble belts as used in the late 1800's. Also note dollar coin of completion year as a signature.

Excellent plans and hardware. However - just a tip: The metal corner caps, in order to fit properly, require that the wood corners beneath the caps are rounded over. The plans do not specify this. It's not a problem - just keep it in mind before installing the hardware.

I'm a novice woodworker and I found this project to be an excellent way to learn and practice a number of techniques. It certainly took me more that 30 hours, but I learned a lot. Which shim to use with the keyed latch was a little confusing. It looked to me like they have the long and short shims drawing reversed. Overall, great plans.

I built 4 of these chests for my four children for christmas. They turned out beautifully. I had a couple of problems. First when I was making the lid the written directions called for a 37 degree cut. The drawing calls for a 38 degree cut. Believe me 1 degree does make a difference. I tried 1 at 37 degree. I ended up redoing it at 38 degrees which worked out fine. The other problem I ran into was on the spring locks in the hardware kit. The locks closed very hard unless you use the key and turn the lock as if you were unlockingit. Then push the lock shut and turn the key bsck into the lock position and remove the key. Other than that everything went smoothly and looked great. In fact I have requests for a couple more and will probably get started on those pretty soon.

I recently started up woodworking again after not having done much since my college days. This was a great project for brushing up on many skills and I learned a lot as well. As you can see, I put my own twist on the finish and really prefer the dark finish with an antique/worn look. While over all I'm happy with the plans, there were the &quot;speed-bumps&quot;. I agree with comments made in other reviews. Templates would be better if not on back of page and the latch shim was a bit confusing. IMPORTANT: Take the time to download the updates for this plan at the Rockler web site&hellip;definitely will save some grief - especially when it comes to installing the lid supports. I thought the plans could have explained more how to assemble things, and what order to do it. I also think it's crucial to pay close attention to the plans in regard to sequence of steps. If I had&hellip;the project would have been completed with fewer headaches and in far shorter time &hellip;another lesson learned.

My first project and it was great. The plans are easy for an intermediate builder but us rank amateurs had to scratch our heads a couple of times. I plan to build more and maybe use other wood, who knows.

The picture caught my eye immediately as a combination trunk and toy box for our grandson. After studying the plans for an hour or so, I was ready to get to work. Paying close attention to instructions is sooooo important to properly build anything and this is no exception. The instructions are simple, to the point and thorough. I followed each detail and it really looks good and is strong enough (I used solid Oak with dark cherry for the bands and plugs) to last for years beyond the &quot;Toy Box&quot; age. Great plans and a good deal from Rockler. Thanks!

I have made four steamer trunks for gifts. The plans are good and easy to follow. The hardware kit is good, but I would like to see an improvement in the lock and latch. It is difficult for most people to use.

I'm not complete yet, but here are my thoughts. First, the plans I received have been updated with all of the corrections mentioned here and elsewhere. I also watched a four-part YouTube (Wood Whisperer) series of someone who used these plans, with some modifications. I've opted to use a reinforced rabbit joint on the corners. His overview was really helpful in making sure I didn't get myself into a corner. So far, all is well. I cut the rabbit joints and the handle panels with a dado blade. The slots with a 3/16" slot cutter on the router table. I'm currently gluing up the box panels and will post more later. One other thought. This trunk isn't as big as I thought it was going to be -- only 14" tall. I call it my Disneyland trunk.

I'm a novice woodworker, but thought this would be fun to build as a gift. I was right. I learned a lot, particularly from the wood whisperer youtube 4-part videos on this plan. He made numerous changes, but I pretty much stuck with the plan. Only plan complaint is that the tray ends probably need to 3/4" not 1/2" thick. I couldn't figure out how to countersink a screw and plug it in 1/2". Also, the tray ends up being about 1/2" too short to stay on the supports by my measurements. Unfortunately, I discovered this too late and had to extend the supports. I used a spline in the lid, but simple rabbit on the corners. I used 1/4" plywood for the panels, but next time I'll saw my own. The panels where the end handles to look so much better.

I enjoyed building this chest very much. It was my first major piece since taking up woodworking so a few flaws do show but overall I am please with the results. The plans easy to follow but I made a change with the hardware because I turned it into a toy chest for my Grandson. I installed saftey lid supports and used a piano hinge because of the strain put on the them with the spring loaded hinges. I would love to build another one and will sure purchase more plans from Rockler.

This is the first time I used a Rockler kit and plans to build and I was quite pleased. The only problem is that you have to use the key to open or close the locking latch. I also modified the plan and used actual leather straps around the trunk rather than the darker wood. This will make a great hope chest for our youngest grand daugther.

I am new at woodworking, but found, that for the most part, the directions to build this steamer trunk very easy to understand and complete. I built three trunks at once for family gifts. I have three more to build for friends since they have seen the trunks or pictures of them and want one also.

I too used biscuits instead of the corner and lid splines. The measurements were all correct, just make sure you make all length cuts at the same time so all stays square and fits correctly. I made the tray a shadow box for a friend's retirement after 24 years in the Navy.

I was very impressed at the detail and recommendations for hardware. The templates were very useful, and appreciated. I would as always say any woodworker will make his/her own adjustments to the plan to make it their own, but would also recommend this plan to a novice as it is very understandable and do-able no matter what your experience. Its a great project one that you can hand down for generations!

Overall the plans were fairly easy to follow. Double check the measurements. A few of the step by step instructions contradicted the cutout list. I used walnut and oak for this one, and added a custom glass lid for the tray. I used rabbet joints for the corners of the box vice the miter joint in the plan. This was for a friends retirement.

If you follow the trunk plans, to letter you have to have perfectly straight lumber to make the mitered corners and my wild cherry boards were not perfect so o had to modify the corners by using a straight strip to make the corners work. Also the template for the tray curved sides are wrong with the marked dominations. The template does not measure 5 inches. I sawed the wild cherry boards from logs and planed then to make this trunk.

I'm a big Rockler fan, but I am extremely disappointed with this plan and hardware package.The plan is ambiguous and the lock mechanism does not work.There is no such thing as Red Oak plywood in my neck of the woods. If I were to do it again, I'd not use any plywood at all, except for the chest and tray bottoms. Just rip the 1/2&quot; from red oak stock, that is all you need for the rest of the &quot;plywood&quot; stock.And that corner stuff... well, it simply does not have to be that complicated. One detailed look at the plans will tell you that the author was confused about this too.I am way disappointed with this.

Great instructions. Everything is mapped out for you. As I am a beginner, the only thing I’d add is a diagram of boards with the cuts mapped out on them. Other than that, it’s very well written for an amateur like me.

Play close attention to all measurments.&nbsp; If you cut the spline groove at 38 degrees&nbsp;they won't line up! Number 5 on lid plan. I cut them by placing the face of the 38 degrees&nbsp;angle flat on the table saw returning the saw blade to 90 degrees&nbsp;and adjusting the rip fence and blade height. Hope this keeps someone from ruining some material.

I HAD TO REDESIGN THE EFFORT. TOO COMPLICATED TOO MANY ERRORS THE TEMPLATES WERE POORLY THOUGHT OUT----BECAUSE TEMPLATES IF USED, DESTROY THE OTHER SIDE TRY TWO PIECES OF PAPER.ONE HINGE ON BILL OF MATERIAL IS NOT ENOUGH. SHOULD IDENTIFY ITEMS SHOWN ON DRAWINGS.